General
The book invites us to the Apocalypse itself, for several reasons, to allow, among all other books that make up the Word of God written, attention:
1. While the book of Daniel, considered the Apocalypse of the Old Testament ends with the recommendation to keep sealed the revelations it brings up the end time, time where knowledge increase: Daniel 12, 4.9, order is given instead to John, not keep secret words he received, but to bring to the attention of many: Rev. 22.10. The main reason for this shift in rhetoric is a reality due to the time: while Daniel had a revelation of things that were remote, whose performance was not expected immediately, John speaks to a time that is convenient . We can therefore expect the fact that the more time the fulfillment of prophecies in this book will get closer, we will be more easy, by the Holy Spirit, understanding.
The Apocalypse is therefore aptly name. It is a Revelation : 1st word of the book, "unveiling" of things that were known only by God and are now made known to the saints. The Apocalypse fence that the revelation of all mysteries, kept hidden in the Person of God, revealed gradually over the story: Marc 4.11, Ephesians 1.9, 3.3 to 9; Rom 11 , 25; 16.25; 1 Cor 15.51-52; Col 1.26 to 27, 2 Thess 2:7; Rev. 1.20, 10.7; 17.5 to 7.
For us who live close to 2000 years after John had written this term we could seem misplaced. It is necessary to justify, however, remember at least three things: a.
The first is that the period the Bible refers to as "the last days" began with the coming of Jesus : Hebrews 1.2. First came to bear the sins of many, Christ, according to his promise, was expected again to finally accomplish the work of salvation: Hebrews 9.28. This expectation of Christ's return, unspecified time, was, we read in the letters of the apostles, a lively reality of the faith of early Christians: Romans 13.11-13; 1 Peter 4.7; 1 John 2.18. It was not illogical in the mind of the disciples to believe that Jesus could also return for their time.
b; If Daniel wrote things that were for long distance, not of his time, the Apocalypse of John is primarily intended for Christians of his time. Evidenced by the seven letters that John address from Jesus, in the introduction, well identified seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea : Rev. 2 and 3. We must never lose sight, reading the Apocalypse, as if the book has a historical significance far, he addressed first and also to believers who were contemporaries of the time John wrote.
This reality gives us a first key of interpretation of the book: what John saw in both the church and in the world of his time, the principles contained the seeds of what would grow in the following history and conduct the trial as well as the world's definitive establishment of the Kingdom of God! The interpretation Contemporary Book of the Apocalypse does not preclude a prophetic reading for our times, because, like them, we are also part of the same period of the last six days, which began with the first coming of Jesus Christ !
c. It is in a strong context of persecution that the Apocalypse was written: Rev. 1.9. While leaving Jesus, the disciples were assured that henceforth, all power was given him on earth and in heaven: 28.18 Matthew, the disciples put to death by Nero, the tyrant Roman and his successors, might have doubts about the veracity of this assertion. The objective of the Apocalypse is to ensure the disciples of Christ the reality of God's final triumph over all forms of the power of evil. While the character of this power of evil appears here in full force, but also shows the Apocalypse broken and put aside to make room "for the power and the kingdom of God and the authority of His Christ: Rev. 11.15, 12.10, 19.1 to 6 .
"There has been," said Coates AC, in the history of the Church and in particular the periods of persecution, as in time of martyrs, this book was a special interest in the saints who drew comfort and support evident. "
2. The Apocalypse is the only book presented as a direct revelation of God given in Jesus Christ, His Son , for transmission to His disciples: Rev. 1.1 . This hierarchy can surprise us. However, it has surprising and corresponds exactly to the spiritual position that Jesus always said: Jean 5,17.19-20; Mat 24.36. He reminds us so induced, up the special role occupied by the Son and accurate compared to the Father in the Godhead:
- the Father is the Author, the Offeror, the Source of all: the original
Thought - the Son is He who reveals Father, makes his will: the Word.
3. The Apocalypse is the only book of the Bible that contains both:
- a double blessing promised to address those who read it, hear it and keep the words which are written therein: Rev. 1 , 3; 22.7
- a solemn warning against those who would think to alter the content: 22.18 to 19 Rev. .
Considering the particularity of the Apocalypse, it is not surprising that he was at any time, as the first book of the Bible, Genesis, the object of attack is particularly strong against its authenticity (it has been officially included in the canon of Scripture than 397), ie, its content (biased interpretations). C''st Paper which, more than any other, reveals the final defeat of Satan, the rebel to God, his miserable end and the glorious felicity of the redeemed of Christ in eternity!
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